The Lifesavers Link: September 2025 Edition

Updated: Sep 5

Bringing Monthly Updates and Guidance to RGV CPR Aligned Instructors

🍂 Welcome to the September Edition of Lifesaver’s Link!

Fall is just around the corner, and with it comes a season full of change, preparation, and the hustle of the upcoming holidays. It’s a busy time of year, which makes it even more important to stay on top of instructor updates, class requirements, and quality standards.

In this month’s newsletter, you’ll find reminders and opportunities to help you grow as an instructor, stay certified, and make a meaningful impact as we move toward the end of the year. Together, we can finish 2025 strong while continuing to save lives and inspire others to do the same. ❤️

🚨 REMINDER: Instructor Updates Launch October 22! 🚨

We’ve mentioned this before, but we’re now just weeks away from the release of the American Heart Association 2025 Guidelines and new teaching materials.

On October 22, 2025, the 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care will be released, and the Instructor Update courses will go live.

Here’s what you need to know and do:

These updates provide an overview of new science and key changes for each discipline.
Completion is required for each discipline (ACLS, BLS, Heartsaver, PALS) you teach.
The update courses are complimentary (no cost!)
Once complete, you’ll receive a certificate of completion — this must be submitted to us so we can keep it on file for AHA compliance.
Deadline: All updates must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on February 28, 2026.
Teaching Materials: New instructor manuals and course videos will be required starting March 1, 2026 and be available for purchase on October 22, 2025.
I’ll email you on October 22nd with:
1. The link to register and access your update courses
2. Instructions for ordering the new teaching materials

💡 Plan Ahead Financially: Be ready to purchase new instructor teaching materials for each discipline you teach. Start setting aside funds now so you’re ready when ordering opens.

Hit Your Teaching Requirement + Gain Experience!

To stay certified, every instructor must teach at least 4 classes per year, per discipline you’re teaching (BLS/Heartsaver, ACLS, PALS).

If your instructor card is expiring soon and you need to meet your teaching requirement or want to gain more confidence, you’re invited to co-teach a class with me! Email me at marisol@rgvcpr.com if interested.

Upcoming Co-Teach Opportunities

BLS: This Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
BLS (recurring): Every Friday at 9:00 a.m.
Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED (Full Instructor-Led):
- Saturday, October 4, 2025 at 8:00 a.m.
- Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 8:00 a.m.

Note: Co-teaching is a great way to build experience, but before your instructor card expires, you must be monitored teaching your own class, with your own students and your own equipment.

Your Quality Score = Our Shared Success

Did you know one of the key ways the American Heart Association (AHA) measures the performance of a Training Center is through Quality Scores?

Here’s how it works:

Quality Scores are based on two key factors:
1. The percentage of eCards claimed by students.
2. The percentage of course surveys completed by students.
The AHA’s goal is for both to stay between 85%–100%.
Every instructor’s Quality Score directly impacts RGV CPR’s overall Training Center score.

Why This Matters

When students receive their email to claim their eCard, they are also asked to complete a course survey. By encouraging your students to complete both steps, you:

Improve your personal Quality Score.
Strengthen our overall Training Center score.
Provide valuable feedback to help us all grow and improve.

How to Check Your Score

You can view your personal Quality Score anytime:

Log in to Atlas.Heart.org.
Go to the Training Center on the menu > Scroll down to eCards on the drop-down menu > Click on Manage eCards and select Reports from the drop-down menu
Under Select Report choose Quality Score.

⚠️ Heads Up: We will be reviewing your individual Quality Score with you during your biennial instructor renewal/monitoring appointment, so keep it top of mind throughout the year.

Your Role in Our Success

To keep our scores strong and meet AHA’s expectations:

Remind students at the end of class to check their email and claim their eCard right away.
Encourage them to take a few minutes to complete the course survey — it’s built right into the claiming process.
Follow up with students a day or two later if needed, especially for corporate or group trainings.

💬 Closing Note

As we move into the final months of 2025 and into 2026, let’s continue to stay focused on our shared mission: teaching lifesaving skills with excellence and passion. Together, we’ll finish the year strong, prepared, and ready to make an even bigger impact in the year ahead. 🍁

Thank you for being an essential part of the RGV CPR family — your dedication truly makes a difference! ❤️

How to Contact Me

📞 Have a Question? Need Assistance?

For urgent matters, contact me at my direct number at (956) 332-2928. DO NOT CALL OUR MAIN OFFICE NUMBER. Keep in mind that I teach classes almost daily. Therefore, if you do not reach me by phone, I recommend texting me instead of leaving a voice mail message and I will respond as soon as I can.

For non-urgent matters, email me at marisol@rgvcpr.com, and I will reply by the end of the day.

💡 Stay Connected & Stay Ahead! 💡

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